Yoda the Chihuahua crowned the World’s Ugliest Dog

Yoda is officially the world’s ugliest dog, with the 14-year-old Chihuahua’s scruffy short tufts of hair, protruding tongue and bulbous, bloodshot eyes powering her to victory at the coveted contest.

Yoda: The world’s new ugliest dog (Picture: AP)

The Chinese crested Chihuahua cross named took home $1,000, a trophy and lots of pet perks after stealing the hearts of judges and the audience alike.

Owner Terry Schumacher of Hanford, California, revealed that when she first encountered the pooch, she was convinced that the animal was a rat.

Winner: Yoda took home the top $1000 prize during the 23rd annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest (Picture: Getty)

After realising the ball of hair and limbs was actually a dog, Miss Schumacher took the 2lb animal home and named her new pet after the pint-sized Jedi master from the Star Wars films, to whom the dog bears a resemblance.Yoda, who has irregular features and scruffy fur, has since become part of the Schumacher family. Yoda eats the same food as the Schumachers and often accompanies Miss Schumacher to her day job as a dog groomer.

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At the contest, held at Sonoma-Marin Fair in California, Miss Schumacher hugged and kissed Yoda after she won the title as a first-time entrant in the 23-year-old show.

A variety of other dogs, some missing eyes, fur, and others limping on limbs of a variety of sizes, also strutted their stuff at the Worldâs Ugliest Dog Contest.